The Netherlands American Cemetery and Memorial in the Dutch town of Margraten is the final resting place of almost 8,300 American WWII casualties, including Sampson C. Willoughby of Columbus. People in the Netherlands have adopted the graves and continue to bring flowers to the graves regularly 80 years after liberation.
A Columbus man who gave his life to help liberate Europe in World War II is among 250 American service members memorialized in a new book.
US Army Technician 4th Grade Sampson C. Willoughby was 21 years old when he was killed in action. Willoughby is buried in the Netherlands American Cemetery and Memorial in the small Dutch town of Margraten near Maastricht.
Now, almost 80 years after his death, a group of volunteers in the Netherlands has created a memorial book to show appreciation for the sacrifices of soldiers like Willoughby, whose story is among the 250 that have been included in the book, “The Faces of Margraten: They Will Remain Forever Young.”
The Netherlands American Cemetery and Memorial is the final resting place of almost 8,300 American WWII casualties. The names of another 1,722 soldiers are recorded on the Walls of the Missing. The cemetery is of the 26 overseas American cemeteries that are administered by the American Battle Monuments Commission.
The people of the Netherlands have never forgotten the service and sacrifice of these soldiers. Ever since 1945, locals have adopted the graves of the soldiers. The adopters treat the soldiers like their own family, bringing flowers to the graves regularly. The family members of the deceased soldiers express it is comforting to know their loved ones’ graves are being looked after. Many long-lasting friendships between Dutch and American families developed through the grave adoption program.
In 2014, volunteers of the Fields of Honor Foundation also initiated The Faces of Margraten project. During the biennial tribute, the graves and Walls of the Missing are decorated with the soldiers’ personal photos. Volunteers in both Europe and the U.S. have collected over 8,500 faces so far.
On the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the liberation of the Netherlands in 2020, the volunteers put together a Dutch edition of the book that quickly sold out twice. Three years later, there finally is an American edition that the authors officially presented to the Deputy Chief of Mission Aleisha Woodward of the U.S. Embassy in the Netherlands on March 3.
Willoughby’s story is featured in the book. He served with the 36th Tank Battalion, 8th Armored Division, and died on March 5, 1945. He was killed while trying, under intense enemy fire, to get his stalled tank started again. He posthumously received the Silver Star Medal for this action.
The book is available through the publisher, Amsterdam University Press, or every outlets in the U.S., including Amazon and Barnes and Noble.
